UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA    PUBLICATIONS 
UNIVERSITY    EXTENSION 


SYLLABUS 


THE  WESTWARD  MOVEMENT  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY 


DON   E.  SMITH 


BERKELEY:   THE   UNIVERSITY  PRESS 
August,  1906 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA    PUBLICATIONS 
UNIVERSITY    EXTENSION 


SYLLABUS 

'OF  A 

Course  of  Twelve  Lectures 

ON 

THE  WESTWARD  MOVEMENT  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY 


^  JF 

DON   E.   SMITH  > 


BERKELEY:   THE    UNIVERSITY  PRESS 
August,  1906 


,  3L 


LIST  OF  LECTURES. 

1.— The  Beginnings  of  American  History. 

2.— The  Colonies  on  the  Eve  of  the  Revolution. 

3.— The  American  Revolution. 

4.— The  Growth  of  Federal  Institutions. 

5.— The  Organization  of  the  Federal  Government. 

6.— The  Era  of  Jefferson. 

7.— Jackson  and  the  New  Democracy. 

8.— The  Slavery  Question  and  the  New  South. 

9. — Western  Expansion  and  the  Mexican  War. 

10.— Economic    Development    in    the    United    States    during    the 
National  Period. 

% 

1 1 . — The  Irrepressible  Conflict. 

12.— The  United  States  on  the  Eve  of  the  Civil  War. 


INTRODUCTION. 

General  Bibliographical  Note. 

So  great  is  the  number  and  complexity  of  the  printed 
works  on  American  History,  that  some  preliminary  classifi- 
cation of  the  more  important  in  regard  to  both  scope  and 
period  seems  necessary.  No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to 
estimate  critically  all  of  the  important  works  dealing  with 
a  part  or  the  whole  period  of  American  History  from  the 
first  discoveries  to  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860, 
but  it  seems  worth  while  to  give  some  indication  of  those 
books  which  are  at  the  same  time  useful  and  accessible.  Two 
useful  guides  to  the  bibliography  of  American  History  are 
first  of  all,  Channing  &  Hart's  "Guide  to  American  His- 
tory," (Boston,  1897.  Ginn  &  Co.);  and  C.  K.  Adams' 
"Manual  of  Historical  Literature,"  (N.Y.,  1882.  Harper). 
The  last  mentioned  work  is  of  uneven  merit  and  now  some- 
what out  of  date,  but  the  Channing  &  Hart  "Guide," 
though  without  critical  estimate  of  the  great  majority  of 
the  works  referred  to,  contains  admirably  selected  biblio- 
graphies, both  general  and  special. 

General  Histories. — No  historical  scholar  of  reputation 
has  written  a  complete  general  history  of  the  United  States 
covering  the  entire  period.  The  "Cyclopedia  of  Political 
Science,  Political  Economy,  and  of  the  Political  History  of 
the1  United  States, ' '  edited  by  John  J.  Lalor  ( Chicago, 
1881—1884),  is  a  comprehensive  work,  in  three  volumes,  and 
contains  some  .  extremely  valuable  articles  by  Alexander 
Johnston.  A  large  cooperative  work,  and  like  all  such 
efforts  suffering  from  inequalities  of  merit  among  the  con- 
tributors, was  completed  in  1889  under  the  editorship  of 
Justin  Winsor,  the  Librarian  of  Harvard.  These  eight 


volumes  entitled  "The  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of 
America"  (Boston,  1886-89.  Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Co.) 
give  the  general  history  of  the  whole  American  continent, 
and  are  especially  valuable  for  their  references  to  the 
sources  and  their  critical  bibliographical  apparatus.  The 
latest  work  of  the  same  general  nature  and  cooperative  plan, 
edited  by  Prof.  A.  B.  Hart  of  Harvard,  is  not  yet  com- 
pleted, but  is  appearing  at  the  rate  of  several  volumes  each 
year.  This  projected  work  of  twenty-seven  volumes,  to  be 
known  as  "The  American  Nation;  A  History"  (New  York. 
Harper.)  has  among  the  authors  of  the  several  volumes  a 
number  of  the  foremost  historical  scholars  in  the  country, 
and  promises  to  fill  a  long  felt  want.  Woodrow  Wilson's 
"History  of  the  American  Nation,"  and  Bryant  &  Gay's 
"Popular  History  of  the  United  States,"  are  fluent  and 
easy  narratives. 

Discovery  and  Exploration. — While  this  is  strictly  not 
American  history  at  all  but  rather  a  part  of  the  history  of 
Europe,  it  is  treated  as  a  period  of  American  History  in  all 
the  general  works.  The  well  known  two  volumes,  ' '  The  Dis- 
covery of  America"  (Boston,  1892.  Houghton.)  by  John 
Fiske,  is  deservedly  popular ;  while  H.  Harrisse,  in  his  work 
of  the  same  title,  gives  what  may  be  termed  the  scholar's 
point  of  view,  and  embodies  in  it  the  latest  researches  and 
discussions  of  mooted  points,  often  of  little  interest  however 
to  the  general  reader.  The  well  known  English  historical 
writer,  James  Anthony  Froude,  reproduces  the  spirit  of 
the  early  explorers  in  his  ' '  English  Seamen  in  the  Sixteenth 
Century."  All  the  works  cited  below  on  Colonial  history 
also  deal  at  some  length  with  the  early  discoveries  and 
explorations. 

Colonial  Period. — Some  of  the  greatest  names  in  Amer- 
ican historiography  are  associated  with  the  history  of  the 
Colonies.  Several  of  Fiske 's  best  known  volumes  treat  of 
this  epoch,  while  the  writings  of  Francis  Parkman  and 
George  Bancroft  are  in  their  way  classics.  Parkman 's 


"France  and  England  in  North  America,  A  Series  of  His- 
torical Narratives"  (Boston,  1865-92.  Little.)  presents  in 
nine  volumes  a  scientific  but  dramatic  record  of  the  winning 
of  North  America  for  the  British  race.  Bancroft 's  "  A  His- 
tory of  the  United  States"  (Sixth  Edition,  6  vols.,  N.  Y., 
1883-85.)  though  possessing  substantial  merits,  is  now 
growing  out  of  date,  and  is  conceived  in  a  rather  ultra- 
patriotic  spirit.  A  good  account  of  this  period  within  con- 
veniently small  compass  is  to  be  found  in  "The  Colonies" 
(vol.  1,  "Epochs  of  American  History,"  N.  Y.,  1891.  Long- 
mans.) by  R.  G.  Thwaites,  and  also  "A  Short  History  of 
the  English  Colonies  in  America"  (N.  Y.,  1881.  Harpers.) 
by  H.  C.  Lodge.  We  do  not  possess  as  yet  an  adequate 
description  of  the  industrial  life  of  the  Colonists,  but  the 
two-volume  "Economic  and  Social  History  of  New  Eng- 
land" (Boston,  1890.),  by  W.  B.  Weeden,  is  excellent  for 
the  limited  region  with  which  it  deals.  A  work  of  high 
merit  and  from  the  English  point  of  view  is  '  *  The  English 
in  America"  (Three  vols.,  London,  1882-87.  Reprinted, 
Holt,  N.Y.),  by  J.  A.  Doyle. 

Revolutionary  Period. — Beside's  the  two  American  ac- 
counts of  the  history  of  the  Revolution  by  H.  C.  Lodge  and 
John  Fiske,  which  are  in  every  library,  another  view  is 
expressed  by  two  English  Liberals  in  ' '  The  War  of  Ameri- 
can Independence"  (N.  Y.,  1889.  Longmans.),  by  J.  M. 
Ludlow,  and  "The  American  Revolution"  (Two  vols.,  N.Y., 
1898,  1902)  by  Sir  G.  O.  Trevelyan,  who,  being  of  decided 
pro- American  sympathies,  gives  perhaps,  all  things  consid- 
ered, the  best  narrative  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

National  Period. — As  is  to  be  expected  the  literature  of 
this  period  is  peculiarly  rich  but  unfortunately,  in  some 
respects,  the  authors  of  the  larger  and  best  known  works 
without  exception  write  from  what  may  be  termed  the 
high  Federalist  point  of  view.  Henry  Adams'  "History  of 
the  United  States"  (Nine  vols.,  N.Y.,  1889-91.  Scrib- 
ners. )  gives  /a  scientific  and  accurate  narrative  of  the  his- 


8 


tory  between  the  years  1800  and  1817,  based  upon  the  origi- 
nal authorities.  James  Schouler,  "History  of  the  United 
States  under  the  Constitution"  (Five  vols.,  N.  Y.,  1891. 
Dodd.),  in  spite  of  a  somewhat  unfortunate  style,  presents 
a  fairly  complete  treatment  between  1783  and  1861.  Rich- 
ard Hildreth,  "The  History  of  the  United  States,"  (Six 
vols.,  N.  Y.,  1851-56.  Harpers.)  writing  as  a  northern  Dem- 
ocrat, covers  the  years  1492-1821.  John  Bach  McMaster, 
"A  History  of  the  People  of  the  United  States"  (Six  vols., 
N.  Y.,  1883.  Appleton.)  emphasizes  the  element  of  the  life 
of  the  people  in  contra-distinction  to  purely  political  his- 
tory, or  an  exposition  of  our  constitutional  system.  The 
rather  ponderous  eight  volumes  of  Hermann  Von  Hoist, 
"The  Constitutional  History  of  the  United  States,"  (Trans- 
lated by  Lalor  and  Mason,  Chicago,  1876-92.  Callaghan.) 
has  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  scholarly  work  on  an 
ample  scale  from  the  pen  of  a  foreigner.  Von  Hoist  con- 
cludes with  the  year  1861.  A  masterly  exhibition  of  the 
history  of  the  decade  1850-60  and  later,  is  to  be  found  in 
James  Ford  Rhodes,  "History  of  the  United  States  from 
the  Compromise  of  1850"  (Five  vols.,  N.  Y.,  1893.  Har- 
pers.). 

Hubert  Howe  Bancroft  in  his  monumental  history  of 
thirty-eight  volumes,  has  done  for  the  Pacific  slope  and  the 
Spaniard  in  North  America  what  Parkman  did  for  the 
French  and  the  areas  once  dominated  by  them.  Histories 
of  the  older  and  more  populous  states,  usually  of  one  vol- 
ume to  each  separate  state,  and  of  no  little  diversity  of 
merit,  are  to  be  found  in  the  Series  of  "American  Com- 
monwealths," (Boston  and  New  York.  Houghton,  Mifflin, 
&  Co.)  edited  by  Horace  E.  Scudder.  "The  Trail-Makers" 
series  (seventeen  vols.)  edited  by  J.  B.  McMaster.  and 
the  "Winning  of  the  West"  (six  vols.)  by  Theodore  Roose- 
velt, are  convenient  and  reliable  accounts  of  the  exploration 
and  peopling  of  the  Great  West.  The  best  introduction  to 
the  study  of  the  Westward  Movement  is  an  article  in  the 


American  Historical  Review  (1894)  by  Frederick  J. 
Turner. 

Biography. — A  large  and  important  source  of  informa- 
tion for  American  history,  particularly  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary and  National  Periods,  is  to  be  found  in  the  lives  of 
the  public  men,  and  in  their  correspondence  and  published 
works,  where  they  exist.  Constant  reference  to  them  is 
given  in  all  the  great  secondary  histories.  Perhaps  special 
notice  is  due  such  recent  and  able  publications  as  Prof. 
Albert  Smyth's  edition  of  the  works  of  Franklin;  Paul 
Leicester  Ford's  "Writings  of  Thomas  Jefferson;"  and 
Worthington  C.  Ford's  "Writings  of  George  Washington." 
It  must  be  remembered  that  many  of  the  extended  biogra- 
phies, such  as  Nicolay  and  Hay's  "History  of  Lincoln," 
and  Marshall's  "Life  of  Washington,"  are  almost  complete 
histories  of  the  period  in  which  these  statesmen  lived.  A 
most  useful  collection  of  biographical  writings  is  the  series, 
"American  Statesmen"  (Boston  and  New  York,  Houghton 
Mifflin  &  Co.),  edited  by  John  T.  Morse,  Jr. ;  and  the  series, 
"Makers  of  America,"  constructed  on  a  similar  plan,  con- 
tains a  number  of  well  known  volumes. 

Travel. — The  literature  of  travel  in  America  is  so  abun- 
dant, and  the  number  of  such  books  by  authors  of  reputa- 
tion is  so  great  that  it  is  peculiarly  difficult  to  justify  the 
selection  of  any  half  dozen  titles.  However,  among  the 
best  are:  "New  Travels  in  the  United  States  performed  in 
1788"  (two  vols.,  London,  1794.  2nd  edit.),  by  J.  P.  Brissot 
de  Warville;  "Society  in  America  (1834-36)"  by  Harriet 
Martineau  (three  vols.,  London,  1837.)  ;  "Domestic  Man- 
ners of  the  Americans,"  by  Mrs.  Frances  M.  Trollope 
(London,  1832.)  ;  "A  Journey  in  the  Seaboard  Slave 
States,"  by  Frederick  Law  Olmsted  (Our  Slave  States,  vol. 
1)  (N.  Y.  1856.)  ;  James  S.  Buckingham's  seven  volumes 
of  description  of  the  country,  under  various  titles,  and 
Charles  Dickens'  "Notes  on  America,"  cannot  be  omitted 
from  mention. 


10 


Additional  and  rather  more  specific  references  will  be 
found  under  the  several  lectures,  but  all  references  in  this 
syllabus  are  to  be  regarded  as  merely  suggestive  and  riot  in 
any  sense  complete  or  exhaustive. 


WESTWARD  MOVEMENT  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY, 


LECTURE  ONE. 

The  Beginnings  of  American  History. 

The  history  of  American  history-writing ;  first  efforts  of 
American  historians  directed  toward  foreign  countries; 
I/ lace  of  American  history  among  historical  studies ;  late- 
ness of  American  history  to  receive  a  place  in  the  curricula 
of  American  colleges  and  universities;  different  points  of 
view  in  the  writing  of  American  history ;  problem  of  giving 
proper  emphasis  to  economic,  social,  and  political  and  con- 
stitutional elements ;  justification  for  emphasizing  the  atten- 
tion to  the  Westward  Movement. 

Periods  of  American  history;  the  history  of  every 
nation  or  people  has  an  organic  unity;  all  divisions  of  his- 
tory into  so-called  periods  and  epochs  are  artificial ;  con- 
venience of  presentation  renders  such  arbitrary  divisions 
useful ;  importance  of  the  National  Period. 

The  North  American  continent;  its  situation  between 
Europe  and  the  Indies ;  the  physiography  of  the  continent ; 
important  influence  on  American  national  life  of  the  physi- 
cal environment  in  which  European  settlers  found  them- 
selves; the  Atlantic  coast  line;  the  natural  harbors;  the 
great  forests  and  the  Appalachian  mountain  system  partial 
barriers  to  the  movement  of  population  toward  the  interior ; 
the  great  river  systems,  St.  Lawrence,  Hudson  and  Potomac, 
afforded  means  of  communication  with  the  Mississippi 
valley ;  climate  and  meteorological  conditions ;  character- 
istic fauna  and  flora ;  effect  upon  economic  life  of  colonists. 


12 


Native  races;  their  share  in  early  development;  their 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  Europeans;  subjugation  by 
the  Spaniards,  alliance  with  the  French,  extermination  by 
the  English ;  remarkable  resistance  of  the  Indians  to  either 
assimilation  or  conquest;  effect  of  this  struggle  upon  the 
white  man. 

Beginnings  of  American  history ;  the  early  discoveries 
a  part  of  European  history  and  the  outgrowth  of  European 
conditions;  "American  colonization  is  part  of  a  great  his- 
toric movement — the  Aryan  migrations;"  close  inter-rela- 
tion of  discovery,  exploration  and  colonization;  various 
meanings  of  the  word  "colony;"  different  types  in  the 
New  World ;  Spanish,  English,  French,  and  Dutch ;  respect- 
ive "spheres  of  influence"  in  North  America;  historically, 
the  English  colonies  must  be  regarded  as  dependencies  of 
the  British  Empire  as  well  as  prospective  units  of  the  later 
great  federal  republic. 

BOOKS  KECOMMENDED. 

This  first  period  in  American  history  is  treated  at  length  in  nearly 
all  of  the  general  works,  but  the  following  more  special  volumes  may 
be  consulted  with  profit.  For  geography,  consult  N.  S.  Shaler, 
"Nature  and  Man  in  America  (N.  Y.,  1891),  and  A.  P.  Brigham, 
"Geographic  Influences  in  American  History."  J.  E.  Seeley's  "Ex- 
pansion of  England "  is  a  stimulating  small  book  dealing  with  general 
principles  of  colonization.  However,  the  best  guide  to  the  subject 
matter  of  this  lecture  is  to  be  found  in  Winsor's  "Narrative  and 
Critical  History." 


LECTURE  TWO. 

The  Colonies  on  the  Eve  of  the  Revolution. 

In  the  eighteenth  century  America  and  India  were  the 
battle-grounds  on  which  the  great  maritime  nations  of 
Europe  fought  for  supremacy;  America  had  now  become 
important  in  itself  and  not  a  mere  stepping-stone  to  India 
and  the  Orient;  nature  of  the  European  contest  and  its 
significance  to  America ;  the  English  century ;  contributions 


13 


of  the  colonists  in  effecting  the  ultimate  triumph  of  Eng- 
land. 

Remarkable  growth  of  population  in  the  English  col- 
onies in  America;  causes  of  European  immigration,  reli- 
gious, political,  and  economic ;  contrasts  in  the  attitudes  of 
Spain,  France,  and  Great  Britain  toward  encouraging 
immigration  to  their  colonies;  the  immigrant  usually  a 
superior  individual  of  an  inferior  social  class;  principal 
elements  in  our  early  population;  German  and  Scotch- 
Irish,  the  natural  frontiersmen  in  the  advance  from  the 
coast  settlements  to  the  Alleghanies;  topographic  divisions 
of  this  region  and  relation  to  social  and  economic  life. 

The  production  of  wealth  in  all  the  thirteen  colonies  was 
even  more  rapid  than  the  increase  of  population;  general 
characteristics  of  industrial  life;  abundance  of  natural 
resources,  highly  efficient  labor,  good  markets;  lack  of 
capital  and  good  monetary  system.  Grouping  of  the  col- 
onies according  to  leading  industries;  New  England  was 
dependent  on  the  sea,  the  South  on  agriculture,  while  the 
Middle.  Colonies  had  a  more  complex  economic  organization. 
Close  mercantile  connections  with  West  Indies ;  the  fur 
trade ;  vast  importance  to  Europe  of  the  American  trade. 

America  as  a  part  of  the  British  Empire;  comparison 
of  the  position  of  the  thirteen  colonies  with  those  of  the 
other  European  nations;  relation  to  the  Crown;  regulation 
of  trade ;  the  Navigation  Act  and  various  restrictive  meas- 
ures; the  Board  of  Trade;  the  colonial  agent.  The  "Mer- 
cantile Theory"  and  eighteenth  century  notions  about 
( i  balance  of  trade. ' '  Inevitable  growth  of  discontent  among 
the  colonists.  Political  institutions  in  America;  local  self- 
government  general  throughout  the  country ;  efforts  on  the 
part  of  the  royal  governors  to  curb  popular  movements, 
ineffectual;  experience  of  the  colonists  in  political  affairs; 
Blackstone  better  known  than  in  England;  diffusion  of 
knowledge,  particularly  relating  to  law  and  politics,  dis- 
posed the  Americans  to  independent  thinking,  and  fore- 


14 


shadowed  controversy  with  the  mother  country  and  final 
separation.  In  spite  of  the  aristocratic  origin  of  most  of 
the  colonies  and  the  presence  of  many  rigid  class  distinc- 
tions, society  had  the  essential  characteristics  of  a  frontier 
community.  This  tendency  became  more  marked  with  the 
westward  movement  of  population  and  with  each  successive 
stage  in  the  subduing  of  the  continent. 

BOOKS  BECOMMENDED. 

In  the  absence  of  any  one  general  work  dealing  adequately  with 
all  the  phases  of  the  subject  of  this  lecture,  reference  must  be  had  to 
such  books  as,  P.  A.  Bruce,  "  Economic  History  of  Virginia  in  the 
Seventeenth  Century"  (2  vols.)  ;  Edward  McCrady,  "History  of 
South  Carolina  under  the  Koyal  Government"  (N.  Y.,  1899);  G.  D. 
Bernheim,  "German  Settlements  in  North  and  South  Carolina;" 
William  E.  Shepherd,  "History  of  Proprietary  Government  in  Penn- 
sylvania;" J.  G.  Palfrey,  "History  of  New  England"  (5  vols.)',  and 
numerous  others  of  a  like  nature  cited  in  the  general  histories.  A  rare 
work,  but  one  of  exceeding  interest  on  account  of  the  renown  of  its 
author  is  the  "Account  of  the  European  Settlements  in  America" 
(2  vols.,  sec.  edition,  London,  1758)  by  Edmund  Burke.  Lives  of 
representative  colonial  leaders  like  Franklin  and  Washington  throw 
much  light  on  the  times  in  which  they  lived. 


LECTURE  THREE. 

The  American  Revolution. 

The  War  of  American  Independence  was  one  of  the  few 
really  epoch-making  wars  of  history.  It  exerted  a  pro- 
found influence  in  both  the  Old  and  the  New  World  in 
leading  to  the  political  separation  of  the  two,  and  the 
establishment  of  a  new  system  of  government.  Loss  of 
America  turns  English  colonial  interests  more  than  ever  in 
the  direction  of  India.  Effect  upon  France  and  Spain. 
Different  meanings  of  the  word  "revolution;"  justness  of 
its  application  to  the  American  secession  from  Great 
Britain. 


15 


Two  phases  of  the  contest;  in  the  first,  the  colonists 
struggle  for  the  rights  of  Englishmen,  against  arbitrary 
government ;  in  the  second,  the  leading  motive  is  independ- 
ence; geographical  distribution  of  the  radical  or  pro-inde- 
pendent party. 

General  causes  of  the  war;  self-reliant  and  independent 
spirit  of  the  Americans,  due  in  large  measure  to  isolation 
and  frontier  conditions;  large  adventurer  element  in  the 
population;  analogies  in  Spanish- America ;  non-English 
and  anti-English  elements  among  the  immigrants  from 
Europe;  familiarity  with  political  controversy  resulting 
from  contests  with  the  royal  governors;  depreciation  of 
British  fighting  qualities  after  the  defeat  of  Braddock 
(1755)  ;  English  protection  not  needed  after  conquest  of 
Canada  (1763).  Economic  grievances  slight;  imperial  tax- 
ation an  irritation  rather  than  a  burden. 

Immediate  cause  of  the  war  to  be  found  in  Great  Brit- 
ain and  in  the  personality  of  the  king,  George  III. ;  his  pol- 
icy toward  the  colonies ;  agents  of  his  policy ;  the  opposi- 
tion ;  public  opinion  in  England ;  fluctuations  with  the  pro- 
gress of  the  war ;  Johnson,  Gibbon,  Burke,  Chatham.  Opin- 
ion on  the  continent ;  the  isolation  of  Great  Britain. 

Extension  of  the  war  till  it  involved  all  the  maritime 
powers — France,  Spain,  the  Netherlands ;  the  command  of 
the  sea  passes  to  the  allies;  difficult  nature  of  the  task 
before  the  British  in  the  immense  area  of  America ;  decisive 
aid  of  the  French.  Franklin  and  his  diplomatic  campaign 
in  Europe ;  extraordinary  services  in  the  final  negotiations 
for  peace.  Fate  of  the  western  country ;  attitude  of  France ; 
treaty  of  Versailles,  1783. 

Effect  of  the  war  on  westward  development;  breaking 
of  the  power  of  the  Iroquois  by  Sullivan 's  expedition ;  free 
expansion  to  the  west  assured  after  the  treaty  of  peace. 

BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

The  most  important  works  on  the  Kevolution  are  mentioned  in  the 
bibliographical  note  at  the  beginning  of  the  syllabus,  but  the  follow- 


ing  additional  references  may  prove  helpful.  The  literary  and  culture 
side  of  the  colonial  and  revolutionary  periods  is  exhibited  in  "The 
History  of  American  Literature  during  the  Colonial  Time"  (2  vols., 
1897),  by  Moses  Coit  Tyler;  and  "A  Literary  History  of  America" 
(N.  Y.,  1901),  by  Barrett  Wendell.  The  most  important  charters 
and  constitutional  documents  for  the  colonies  are  printed  in  Wm. 
Macdonald's  "Select  Charters/'  while  those  dealing  with  the  years 
after  1775  are  in  his  "Select  Documents  Illustrative  of  the  History 
of  the  United  States"  (N.  Y.,  1898).  B.  J.  Lossing's  "Field-Book 
of  the  Kevolution"  is  devoted  to  the  purely  military  side  of  the 
struggle.  C.  Tower,  "LaFayette  in  the  American  Revolution"  (2 
vols.,  1895);  J.  T.  Morse,  "Thomas  Jefferson"  (Boston,  1883);  H. 
C.  Lodge,  "George  Washington"  (2  vols.,  1889);  are  good  biogra- 
phies. The  development  of  the  West  can  be  studied  in:  B.  A.  Hinsdale, 
"Old  Northwest;"  J.  P.  Dunn,  "Indiana;"  F.  J.  Turner,  articles 
in  American  Historical  Eeview,  vol.  1,  pp.  70-87,  and  251-269.  From 
this  period  on,  constant  aid  may  be  obtained  from  Theodore  Roose- 
velt, "Winning  of  the  West." 

LECTURE  FOUR. 

The  Growth  of  Federal  Institutions, 

The  forces  making  for  unity  in  the  colonies  were  tem- 
porarily weakened  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
removal  of  all  fear  of  foreign  domination.  The  problem 
confronting  the  American  people  at  the  end  of  the  war  was 
that  of  insuring  independence  for  the  future  by  establishing 
a  strong  national  government.  Success  in  creating  a  work- 
able federal  system  is  the  chief  contribution  of  America  to 
political  science.  Democratic  government  was  to  come 
later,  and  a  united  nation  last  of  all. 

The  ' '  Critical  Period ' '  of  American  history ;  reasons  for 
giving  this  name  to  the  years  between  the  recognition  of 
independence  and  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution;  the 
danger  of  monarchy ;  danger  of  three  separate  republics  or 
leagues  of  states;  danger  of  foreign  encroachments  in  the 
western  country,  preventing  American  advance  to  the 
Mississippi.  Failure  of  the  Confederation  as  a  system  of 
government;  utter  discredit  with  the  nations  of  Europe; 


17 


prostration  of  business  and  industry  at  home ;  rioting  and 
discontent;  Shays'  Rebellion;  the  State  of  Franklin. 

First  attempts  at  a  solution  of  the  difficulty;  the  Ann- 
apolis Convention,  1786;  call  by  Congress,  February  21, 
1787;  the  great  Constitutional  Convention  organizes  in 
Philadelphia,  May  25 ;  its  personnel ;  methods  of  work ;  final 
draft  of  the  Constitution  and  the  three  great  compromises ; 
sources  of  the  leading  ideas  in  the  document ;  it  was  based 
mainly  upon  American  political  experience;  obscurity  sur- 
rounding the  origin  of  some  features;  unforseen  develop- 
ments from  certain  provisions ;  revolutionary  nature  of  the 
government  it  established. 

Far-reaching  importance  of  the  contest  over  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  Constitution ;  formation  of  the  Federalist  and 
Anti-Federalist  parties;  geographical  distribution  of  the 
two  parties;  attitude  of  the  frontier  communities;  their 
reasons  for  opposing  ratification;  the  ultimate  adoption  of 
the  Constitution  by  the  required  nine  states  was  a  victory 
for  the  wealthy  and  commercial  areas  over  those  which 
were  poorer  and  sparsely  settled.  The  Constitution  was 
framed  by  statesmen  avowedly  suspicious  of  popular  gov- 
ernment and  the  first  national  administration  began  with 
distinct  aristocratic  tendencies. 

BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

Three  convenient  hand-books  covering  this  period  are,  ' '  The  Mak- 
ing of  the  Nation,"  by  Gen.  Francis  A.  Walker;  "The  Formation 
of  the  Union, "  by  A.  B.  Hart ;  and  ' '  The  Critical  Period  of  Ameri- 
can History, ' '  by  John  Fiske.  The  following  titles  are  but  the  begin- 
ning of  a  selection  which  might  be  made  of  the  numerous  works 
dealing  with  constitutional  history  and  the  formation  of  the  Consti- 
tution: "History  of  the  Constitution/'  by  George  Ticknor  Curtis; 
"Commentaries  on  the  Constitution,"  by  Joseph  Story;  and,  "The 
Federalist,"  by  Hamilton,  Madison,  and  Jay.  All  the  large  general 
histories  deal  more  or  less  elaborately  with  the  Constitution,  and  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  last  volume  of  George  Bancroft  is 
devoted  to  this  subject.  Advanced  students  will  of  course  consult 
the  writings  of  the  "Fathers  of  the  Constitution,"  notably  those  of 
Madison,  Franklin,  Hamilton,  John  Adams,  Washington,  and  Jay. 


J8 


LECTURE   FIVE. 

The  Organization  of  the  Federal  Government. 

The  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  to 
actual  government  was  the  task  before  the  first  president 
and  federal  congress;  Washington  was  elected  as  a  matter 
of  course,  without  opposition,  and  his  colleague,  John 
Adams,  was  in  sympathy  with  him  in  all  essentials;  this 
period  is  the  so-called  "Era  of  Hamilton,"  but  the  success 
of  the  first  two  administrations  was  due  to  the  dominant 
personality  of  Washington ;  the  administration  not  non- 
partisan;  the  first  cabinet;  its  extra-constitutional  char- 
acter. 

Extent  and  population  of  the  country  in  1790 ;  the 
states  and  the  territories;  the  westward  extension  of  the 
settled  areas ;  statistical  comparison  of  states  and  cities ;  the 
center  of  population;  trade  routes  and  means  of  communi- 
cation ;  reasons  for  the  remarkable  productive  power  of  the 
American  people ;  comparison  with  European  conditions. 

Nearly  all  the  difficulties  that  beset  the  national  govern- 
ment during  the  first  years  were  connected  with  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  sound  fiscal  system,  with  sufficient  revenues; 
the  maintenance  of  a  neutral  policy  with  regard  to  the 
warring  nations  of  Europe  and  the  safe-guarding  of  the 
interests  of  western  country.  The  discussions  growing  out 
of  the  first  two  questions  led  to  the  antagonism  between 
Hamilton  and  Jefferson,  and  the  formation  of  political 
parties. 

The  creation  of  a  financial  system;  the  policy  of  Ham- 
ilton; his  centralizing  and  monarchical  tendencies;  advo- 
cacy of  a  national  debt;  the  National  Bank;  a  protective 
tariff ;  his  views  on  the  doctrine  of  '  *  implied  powers ; ' '  the 
protest  of  Jefferson  and  dissensions  in  the  cabinet ;  Hamil- 
ton 's  victory  and  creative  work ;  his  originality. 


19 


Washington's  foreign  policy  and  the  struggle  for  neu- 
trality; wars  of  the  French  Revolution;  the  French  alli- 
ance; dangers  to  American  carrying  trade;  the  "Demo- 
cratic Societies"  and  enthusiasm  for  the  French;  divisions 
in  the  cabinet  in  regard  to  relations  with  France  and  Great 
Britain;  the  Genet  episode;  Jay's  mission  and  the  treaty 
of  1795. 

History  of  the  western  country  after  the  Revolution; 
the  Ordinance  of  1787 ;  progress  of .  settlement  west  of  the 
Alleghanies ;  Daniel  Boone ;  Kentucky  and  Tennessee ;  influ- 
ence of  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees;  Indian  wars  in  the 
Northwest  Territory ;  general  influence  of  the  frontier  com- 
munities on  policy  of  the  government ;  comparative  neglect 
of  the  west  by  the  Federalist  leaders;  controversy  with 
Spain  over  the  Mississippi ;  Washington 's  plan  of  internal 
improvements;  significance  of  the  "Whiskey  Rebellion;" 
the  rights  and  interests  of  the  westerners  to  be  recognized 
only  after  the  downfall  of  the  Federalists  and  the  rise  of 
the  new  Democracy. 

BOOKS  RECOMMENDED. 

The  biographies  in  the  "American  Statesmen"  series  begin  to 
be  especially  valuable  for  this  period,  in  addition  to  the  books  referred 
to  under  Lecture  Four.  Readers  interested  in  economic  history  will 
find  helpful,  "Tariff  History  of  the  United  States"  (N.  Y.,  1888), 
by  F.  W.  Taussig,  and  W.  G.  Sumner's  "Alexander  Hamilton" 
(N.  Y.,  1890).  A  very  excellent  review  of  the  early  economic  history 
of  the  United  States  is  given  in  C.  J.  Bullock's  "Introduction  to 
the  Study  of  Political  Science."  Alexander  Johnston's  "American 
Politics,"  and  Edward  Stanwood's  "History  of  Presidential  Elec- 
tions" trace  the  main  outlines  of  purely  political  history  for  the 
rest  of  the  period  covered  by  this  syllabus.  J.  B.  McMaster  is  usefuf 
for  the  life  and  manners  of  the  people. 


LECTURE  SIX. 

The  Era  of  Jefferson. 

With  the  retirement  of  Washington,  the  greatest  politi- 
cal force  in  the  country  was  Thomas  Jefferson ;  the  Federal- 
ist party  is  afflicted  with  a  divided  leadership  ;  the  influence 
of  Hamilton,  in  spite  of  his  splendid  talents,  is  diminished 
by  blemishes  of  character ;  Jefferson  undisputed  master  of 
his  own  party ;  his  previous  career ;  his  personality. 

The  Jeffersonian  Democracy  and  the  revolution  of  1800 ; 
the  different  elements  which  were  welded  into  the  new 
Kepublican  Party;  the  common  people;  the  agricultural 
interests ;  the  old  Anti-Federalists  and  the  new  strict  con- 
structionists ;  the  sympathizers  with  France  against  Eng- 
land; the  landed  aristocracy  of  the  South;  the  men  of  the 
New  West;  platform  of  the  new  party;  opposition  to  cen- 
tralizing and  aristocratic  tendencies ;  reduction  of  the  pub- 
lic debt  and  rigid  economy ;  militia  rather  than  a  standing 
army;  new  kind  of  navy. 

Jefferson  and  his  party  came  into  power  with  the  elec- 
tion of  1800,  and  governed  the  country  for  twenty-four 
years;  nature  and  significance  of  the  revolution  of  1800; 
why  the  Federalists  failed;  alarm  of  the  "better  classes" 
over  the  prospective  social  upheaval;  what  the  revolution 
did  not  accomplish;  the  attempt  of  Jefferson  to  apply  his 
principles  to  the  problem  of  actual  government ;  the  Louis- 
iana Purchase. 

The  struggle  for  neutrality  is  still  the  keynote  of  the 
foreign  policy  of  this  period;  American  provincialism  and 
dependence  upon  Europe;  why  neutrality  was  all  but 
impossible ;  the  special  grievances  of  England ;  the  remedy 
of  peaceful  coercion  and  the  embargo ;  in  the  midst  of  this 
contest,  Jefferson  turned  over  the  presidential  office  to 
Madison  and  retired  to  Monticello;  his  policy  is  continued 


21 


by  his  lieutenants  and  disciples,  Madison  and  Monroe;  dur- 
ing Madison's  administration  new  influences  and  new 
leaders  begin  to  be  felt ;  the  young  nationalist  statesmen, 
Clay  and  Calhoun ;  the  War  of  1812. 

From  the  close  of  the  war  to  the  election  of  1824  are 
the  years  termed  the  ' '  era  of  good  feeling ; ' '  disintegration 
of  the  old  Federalist  party ;  the  Hartford  Convention ;  rise 
of  new  issues ;  the  tariff ;  internal  improvements ;  subsidence 
of  interest  in  foreign  affairs;  the  new  Latin-American 
republics  and  the  Monroe  Doctrine;  "The  United  States 
secures  freedom  from  Europe  and  turns  toward  the  West ; ' ' 
declining  influence  of  New  England  and  Virginia,  and  the 
rise  of  the  New  South  and  West.  End  of  the  period  of 
American  provincialism;  the  new  and  rampant  patriotism. 

BOOKS  KECOMMENDED. 

The  authorities  for  this  lecture  are  in  the  main  the  same  as  for 
Lecture  Five,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  for  the  administrations 
of  Adams  and  Jefferson  there  is  little  need  of  supplementing  the 
volumes  of  Henry  Adams,  { i  History  of  the  United  States. ' '  Sufficient 
for  the  diplomatic  history  of  this  period  are,  Lyman's  "  Diplomacy 
of  the  United  States,"  and  Trescott's  "Diplomatic  History  of  the 
Administrations  of  Washington  and  Adams."  The  texts  of  the 
treaties  to  which  the  United  States  was  a  party  will  be  found  in 
' '  Treaties  and  Conventions  of  the  United  States, "  by  J.  C.  B.  Davis. 
The  biographies  of  Clay,  Marshall*  J.  Q.  Adams,  Monroe,  and  Benton 
are  valuable  for  the  life  of  the  times.  "The  Opening  of  the  Missis- 
sippi," by  F.  A.  Ogg,  and  "The  Louisiana  Purchase,"  by  Eipley 
Hitchcock,  are  good  accounts  of  the  transfer  of  Louisiana  and  the 
question  of  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi. 


LECTURE  SEVEN. 

Jackson  and  the  New  Democracy. 

The  second  great  political  revolution  in  American  his- 
tory was  marked  by  the  overwhelming  defeat  of  J.  Q. 
Adams  for  the  Presidency  by  Andrew  Jackson ;  comparison 
of  the  revolutions  of  1800  and  1828 ;  contrasts  in  the  per- 


22 


sonalities  of  Jefferson  and  Jackson ;  influence  of  the  West 
on  the  political  situation;  elements  of  Jackson's  popularity. 

Peculiar  importance  of  the  mere  personal  element  dur- 
ing "the  rule  of  Jackson;"  knowledge  of  the  story  of  his 
life  necessary  to  the  understanding  of  his  policies  as  Presi- 
dent ;  his  Scotch-Irish  ancestry ;  early  environment ;  hatred 
of  the  English ;  education ;  military  career ;  he  was  a  fron- 
tiersman with  the  virtues,  but  with  few  of  the  vices  of  that 
type;  political  career;  history  of  his  candidacy  for  the 
Presidency ;  his  friends. 

Andrew  Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States ;  his 
responsibility  for  the  introduction  of  the  ' '  Spoils  System ; ' ' 
precedents ;  condition  of  party  politics  at  that  time ;  ' '  turn 
the  rascals  out ; ' '  methods  of  work ;  the  *  *  Kitchen  Cabinet ; ' ' 
the  rise  of  Van  Buren. 

The  contest  over  Nullification ;  the  early  history  of  the 
doctrine  found  in  the  debates  over  ratifying  the  constitu- 
tion; relation  to  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  Eesolutions; 
nullification  in  the  North ;  Pennsylvania  and  New  England ; 
Georgia  and  the  Supreme  Court;  causes  of  discontent  in 
South  Carolina;  the  tariff  of  1828;  changed  attitude  of 
Calhoun;  Webster's  reply  to  Hayne,  1830;  more  tariff 
legislation,  1832;  the  Ordinance  of  Nullification  and  its 
reception  by  Jackson ;  philosophy  of  the  nullification  move- 
ment. 

Jackson  and  the  attack  on  the  United  States  Bank; 
justification  from  a  financial  point  of  view;  prejudices 
against  the  bank  as  the  representative  of  the  money  power ; 
influence  of  Clay  in  forcing  an  issue;  withdrawal  of  the 
government  deposits ;  panic  of  1837. 

Jackson  refused  a  third  term,  but  chose  his  successor  in 
office,  and  continued  to  exercise  great  political  influence 
while  in  retirement ;  varying  estimates  of  his  career ;  opinion 
of  Von  Hoist ;  his  greatness  of  character ;  defects  as  a  chief 
executive  of  a  republic;  place  among  the  great  figures  of 
American  public  life. 


23 


BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

Among  the  very  helpful  small  books  dealing  with  this  period  are 
Woodrow  Wilson's  "Division  and  Keunion,"  and  John  W.  Burgess' 
"The  Middle  Period."  On  the  industrial  side,  K.  T.  Ely's  "Labor 
Movement  in  America,"  and  Wells'  "Kecent  Economic  Changes" 
are  reliable  aids.  The  last  word  on  the  subject  of  Jackson  and  the 
war  on  the  Bank  is  to  be  found  in  R.  C.  H.  Catterall,  "Second 
Bank  of  the  United  States."  The  social  life  and  manners  of 
the  Americans  of  this  time  are  portrayed  in  the  books  of  travel  such 
as  Dickens,  Mrs.  Trollope,  A.  de  Tocqueville,  and  others  mentioned 
in  the  General  Bibliographical  Note.  The  well-known  "American 
Commonwealth,"  by  James  Bryce,  throws  a  great  deal  of  light  inci- 
dentally on  the  American  "middle  ages,"  though  it  purports  to 
describe  a  later  period.  The  chief  documents  are  given  in  Macdon- 
ald's  collection,  cited  before. 


LECTURE  EIGHT. 

The  Slavery  Question  and  the  New  South. 

The  tendency  among  historians  of  America  in  recent 
years  is  to  assign  a  less  decisive  part  to  the  question  of  slav- 
ery in  national  politics ;  difficulty  of  determining  just  when 
slavery  became  the  paramount  issue;  necessity  of  treating 
American  abolition  as  a  part  of  a  world-movement,  very 
largely  of  European  origin ;  chattel  slavery  and  its  relation 
to  other  systems  of  labor ;  relative  productiveness  of  free 
and  slave  labor. 

The  introduction  of  negro  slavery  into  America;  Las 
Casas,  and  the  Spanish  system;  into  the  English  colonies; 
the  slave  trade  and  the  various  negro  races ;  forms  of  non- 
free  labor  in  the  Thirteen  Colonies ;  gradual  dying  out  of 
slavery  in  the  North;  decreasing  profit  from  slaves  in  the 
South;  the  influence  of  the  cotton-gin;  the  Southern  slave 
system  came  to  be  based  on  limitless  free  land  and  the 
cotton  crop;  the  slave-breeding  states. 

The  abolition  movement  in  the  United  States;  argu- 
ments in  favor  of  slavery ;  late  development  of  the  "positive 


24 


good"  theory;  ancient  precedents;  benefits  to  both  the 
inferior  and  superior  race ;  mankind  in  general  benefitted 
by  extermination  or  enslavement  of  savages ;  views  of  Aris- 
totle, Sepulveda,  and  Roosevelt;  economic  necessity  in 
unhealthy  lands. 

The  anti-slavery  argument ;  bad  economically  because  it 
prevented  diversification  of  industries,  or  even  of  crops; 
exhausted  the  land;  excluded  use  of  machinery;  degraded 
labor  of  free  whites  and  deterred  immigration ;  debasing  to 
master  and  slave;  opposed  to  old  theory  of  "natural 
rights." 

The  colonial  abolitionists ;  the  Quakers ;  Jefferson 's  great 
services  in  opposition  to  slavery;  the  attitude  of  the 
Fathers;  the  first  controversies;  idea  that  slavery  was  to 
die  out  naturally;  schemes  for  transporting  the  negroes; 
sudden  awakening  of  popular  interest  by  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise debate;  the  balance  of  the  sections;  the  adoption 
of  this  principle  till  the  year  1854 ;  significance  of  the  great 
compromise  on  later  history. 

In  the  history  of  the  relations  of  the  slavery  question 
to  the  Federal  Government,  three  distinct  phases  may  be 
distinguished:  (a)  after  1807  the  importation  of  slaves  was 
prohibited,  and  to  make  this  measure  more  effective  the 
slave  trade  was  later  declared  to  be  piracy;  (b)  after  1820 
slavery  was  to  be  excluded  from  certain  parts  of  the  public 
domain  (north  of  36°  30',  except  Missouri)  ;  (c)  total  abo- 
lition during  a  civil  war,  under  the  war  power  of  the  Presi- 
dent, later  made  a  provision  of  the  Constitution  by  amend- 
ment. 

BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

All  the  larger  histories,  such  as  Schouler;  Hildreth,  Von  Hoist,  and 
Bryant  and  Gay,  deal  at  length  with  slavery  in  its  political  and  con- 
stitutional aspects.  Works  like  Horace  Greeley's  "American  Con- 
flict," Henry  Wilson's  (( Slave  Power  in  America,"  and  William 
Goodell's  "Slavery  and  Anti-Slavery"  are  special  studies  of  the  slav- 
ery question  as  their  titles  indicate.  A  complete  and  scholarly  hand- 
ling of  the  whole  subject  of  the  slave  trade  is  "The  Suppression  of 


25 


the  African  Slave  Trade,"  by  W.  E.  B.  DuBois.  F.  L.  Olmsted's 
travels  in  the  slave  country 'are  the  basis  of  vivid  but  discriminating 
observations  on  the  slave  system  in  practice.  Extracts  from  his  vari- 
ous "Journeys"  are  published  under  the  title  of  the  " Cotton  King- 
dom." 


LECTURE  NINE. 

Western  Expansion  and  the  Mexican  War. 

The  rapid  and  uninterrupted  march  of  population 
across  the  American  continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  was  due  to  two  permanent  causes:  (a)  the  natural 
expansiveness  of  a  rapidly  growing  and  energetic  popula- 
tion, with  traditions  of  migration  behind  them,  and  (b) 
the  absence  of  a  natural  frontier;  the  acquisition  of  Louis- 
iana became  necessary  when  once  the  line  of  settlement  had 
crossed  the  Alleghanies;  a  secondary  cause  of  the  rapid 
westward  expansion  is  to  be  found  in  the  anxiety  of  the 
slave  power  to  secure  more  territory,  and  by  1845  the 
preservation  of  the  equilibrium  between  the  North  and  the 
South  seemed  to  require  the  annexation  of  a  part  of  Mexico. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  Mexican  War  was  the 
annexation  of  Texas  and  the  claim  of  the  Rio  Grande  as 
the  frontier;  previous  history  of  Texas;  the  land  grants; 
character  of  the  American  emigrants;  grievances  against 
Mexico;  the  Lone  Star  Republic,  1836;  recognition  by  the 
United  States,  1837 ;  the  demand  for  annexation  in  Texas 
and  the  United  States;  relation  of  the  Oregon  question  to 
that  of  Texas;  intentions  of  England;  elimination  of  Eng- 
land from  the  controversy  by  the  Oregon  Treaty  of  1846; 
Texas  annexed,  December  3,  1845.  BttftOEo 

War  was  declared  upon  Mexico,  May  13,  1846;  Lin- 
coln's "Spot  Resolutions;"  policy  of  Polk;  desire  for  a 
short  war ;  fear  of  Taylor  and  Scott  politically ;  Benton  as 
a  possible  commander-in-chief ;  military  collapse  of  Mexico ; 
conquest  of  California ;  expeditions  of  Fremont  to  find  a 


26 


route  to  the  Pacific ;  incidental  objects ;  frail  tenure  of  Mex- 
ico upon  Upper  California;  "Bear  Flag  Republic;"  Sloat 
and  Stockton  on  the  coast;  discovery  of  gold;  results  of 
the  war;  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  February,  1848. 

Question  of  the  disposition  of  the  newly  acquired  terri- 
tories in  the  West  the  chief  issue  in  American  politics  till 
the  eve  of  the  Civil  War ;  the  danger  to  the  balance  of 
power  between  the  sections  suddenly  precipitated  the  slav- 
ery contest  and  ultimately  led  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise ;  the  year  1850,  which  was  marked  by  the  last 
of  the  compromises,  may  be  regarded  'as  the  beginning  of 
a  new  epoch  in  American  History. 

BOOKS  BECOMMENDED. 

• 

In  addition  to  the  general  histories  referred  to  under  Lecture 
Eight,  and  the  biographies  of  Clay,  Calhoun,  Benton,  Cass,  Seward, 
and  others,  there  is  a  large  body  of  most  useful  literature  of  a  semi- 
biographical  nature  such  as  Benton 's  "  Thirty  Years'  View"  and 
Blaine  's  ' '  Twenty  Years  in  Congress. ' '  The  best  one-volume  history 
of  Texas  is  the  one  in  the  "American  Commonwealths"  series,  by 
George  P.  Garrison.  There  is  also  the  volume  on  California  in  the 
same  series,  by  Josiah  Eoyce,  while  the  writings  of  H.  H.  Bancroft 
and  T.  H.  Hittell  are  too  well  known  for  special  notice.  Three  large 
works  of  quite  different  scope  and  point  of  view  but  familiar  to  all 
students  of  American  history  because  of  their  high  merit,  begin  to 
be  of  service  for  this  period.  They  are  "Abraham  Lincoln,"  by 
Mcolay  and  Hay;  "History  of  the  United  States  from  the  Com- 
promise of  1850,"  by  James  F.  Bhodes;  and,  "A  Constitutional 
View  of  the  Late  War  between  the  States,"  by  Alexander  H. 
Stephens.  Wilson's  "Division  and  Eeunion"  is  still  a  handy  and 
brief  guide. 


LECTURE  TEN. 

Economic  Development  in  the  United  States 
during  the  National  Period. 

The  one  aspect  of  American  development  which  has 
never  failed  to  impress  foreign  writers  and  observers  is 
the  progress  made  in  the  production  of  material  wealth; 


27 

reasons  for  this  progress  along  industrial  lines  found  in 
the  character  of  the  population  and  the  natural  resources 
of  the  continent ;  subjugation  of  the  continent  and  exploita- 
tion of  its  resources  a  necessary  preparation  for  later 
development ;  the  National  Period  begins  when  the  Indus- 
trial Eevolution  had  been  completed  in  England;  effect  of 
independence  on  restrictions  of  commerce ;  freedom  to  trade 
not  secured  till  after  1815. 

Throughout  the  whole  period  of  American  history  agri- 
culture has  been  the  chief  occupation  of  the  people;  con- 
trasts between  American  and  European  agriculture; 
absence  of  a  peasant  class  in  America;  productiveness  of 
the  soil ;  effect  of  free  land ;  principal  crops ;  comparison  of 
free  and  slave  labor  in  their  effect  upon  agriculture;  the 
three  historic  crops,  tobacco,  cotton,  and  corn ;  inventions. 

Comparatively  late  development  of  manufactures ;  chief 
manufactures  of  the  Colonial  period,  ships,  naval  stores, 
rum ;  growth  of  the  textile  industries ;  introduction  of  steam 
machinery  from  England;  centering  of  manufactures  in 
New  England ;  growth  of  the  protective  idea  in  tariff  legis- 
lation ;  mineral  wealth  of  the  country ;  use  of  coal  in  the 
iron  and  steel  industry;  manufactures  retarded  by  cost  of 
transportation  and  labor. 

Problem  of  cheap  transportation  in  large  countries; 
special  difficulties  in  America ;  early  trade  routes ;  necessity 
of  roads  and  canals ;  the  question  of  internal  improvements 
in  national  politics;  the  Cumberland  Koad;  application  of 
steam  to  river  navigation;  the  Erie  canal;  govern- 
ment aid  to  the  building  of  roads  and  canals  stopped  by 
appearance  of  railroads ;  the  first  railroads  short  independ- 
ent lines ;  gradual  consolidation  and  formation  of  systems ; 
American  merchant  marine. 

Increase  of  immigration  after  the  second  war  with  Eng- 
land ;  absence  of  restrictive  legislation ;  migration  a  natural 
right;  effect  upon  the  price  of  labor;  upon  the  idea  of 
.nationality  as  opposed  to  sectionalism;  upon  the  national 


28 


character ;  upon  the  preponderance  of  the  North  in  wealth 
and  population  as  against  the  South. 

BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

There  is  no  one  book  which  gives  within  convenient  compass  the 
economic  history  of  the  country.  The  economic  writers  cited  before, 
such  as  Ely,  Wells,  and  Sumner,  deal  with  the  industrial  and  financial 
changes.  The  best  known  history  of  the  railroads  is  ' '  Eailroad 
Transportation,"  by  C.  F.  Adams. 


LECTURE   ELEVEN. 

The  Irrepressible  Conflict. 

The  territory  obtained  from  Mexico  as  a  result  of  the 
war  had  not  strengthened  the  South ;  the  balance  of  power 
between  the  sections  was  still  in  favor  of  the  North,  and 
sectional  feeling  had  been  embittered  by  the  debates  over  the 
Wilmot  Proviso;  the  growing  sensitiveness  of  the  South 
regarding  her  "peculiar  institution"  increased  by  violence 
of  the  Abolitionists ;  the  opposing  economic  interests  of  the 
sections  intensified  by  the  marvelous  development  of  the 
North  and  the  stationary  condition  of  the  South. 

The  constitutional  theories  of  John  C.  Calhoun  and  his 
school  dominated  all  Southern  political  thought ;  as  a  young 
man  Calhoun  had  been  one  of  the  most  vigorous  national 
statesmen;  the  essence  of  his  philosophy,  the  finding  of 
methods  under  the  Constitution  of  protecting  a  minority 
against  the  tyranny  of  a  majority ;  the  doctrine  that  slavery 
was  a  positive  good,  not  a  necessary  evil;  endeavor  to 
find  a  means  short  of  secession  of  safe-guarding  the  slav- 
ocracy ;  proposals  in  his  last  speech,  March,  1850 

The  unsatisfactory  nature  of  the  compromise  of  1850; 
practical  impossibility  of  any  sort  of  compromise ;  chief 
provisions  of  Clay's  Omnibus  Bill;  greatest  debate  in 
American  history ;  who  gained  the  advantage ;  reception  of 
the  compromise  by  the  country  at  large;  passing  of  the 
great  leaders,  Calhoun,  Clay,  and  Webster. 


29 


Apparently  an  overwhelming  majority  of  the  American 
people  had  accepted  the  compromise  principle  when  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law  of  1853  and  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill 
of  1854  reopened  the  whole  question;  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
and  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise;  results  of 
' '  squatter-sovereignty ; ' '  rendition  of  fugitive  slaves ;  nulli- 
'fication  in  the  North;  personal  liberty  laws;  character  of 
the  new  leaders. 

The  coming  forward  of  the  slavery  question  as  the  prin- 
cipal issue  in  national  politics  caused  the  break-up  of  the 
old  Whig  party;  the  various  elements  which  entered  into 
the  new  Republican  party ;  Presidential  campaign  of  1858 ; 
virulence  of  political  discussion ;  the  impending  crisis. 

BOOKS  EECOMMENDED. 

The  two  great  authorities  for  this  period  are  of  course  Mcolay 
and  Hay's  "Lincoln,"  and  the  earlier  volumes  of  J.  F.  Bhodes' 
' '  History  of  the  United  States. ' '  Perhaps  the  best  understanding  of 
the  men  and  events  of  the  time  will  be  gained  from  a  study  of  their 
lives  and  writings.  In  addition  to  those  mentioned  under  Lecture 
Nine  reference  should  be  made  to  McLaughlin  's  ' '  Lewis  Cass, ' '  Curtis ' 
"Buchanan/'  Schucker's  "Chase,"  and  Sherman's  " Eecollections. " 
There  does  not  exist  a  good  life  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  The  essen- 
tial documents  for  this  period,  such  as  the  Omnibus  Bill  and  Clay's 
Resolutions;  the  text  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  and  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Act,  with  Douglas'  Eeport;  and  the  Dred  Scott  Decision 
with  the  dissenting  opinion  written  by  Justice  Curtis  are  all  contained 
in  the  Macdonald  's  ' '  Select  Documents. ' ' 


LECTURE  TWELVE. 

The  United  States  on  the  Eve  of  the  Civil  War. 

The  realization  that  the  question  at  issue  between  the 
North  and  the  South  was  insoluble  except  by  war  or  seces- 
sion, or  both,  was  growing  during  the  last  years  of  the 
decade  1850-60;  the  increasing  demand  of  the  slavocracy 
met  by  increased  bitterness  of  the  anti-slavery  agitators;  a 
number  of  untoward  events,  partly  accidental,  and  partly 


30 


flowing  naturally  from  the  earnestness  of  both  parties  to 
the  slave  controversy  aggravated  the  situation ;  additional 
difficulties  arising  from  the  mutual  ignorance  and  depre- 
ciation of  one  section  for  the  other. 

Political  situation  in  1860 ;  the  campaign  of  1860  one 
of  principles  rather  than  of  men ;  no  one  of  the  candidates 
had  pre-eminent  claims  to  the  Presidency ;  the  national  con- 
ventions and  the  party  platforms;  the  real  leaders  of  the 
parties  not  nominated;  why  Douglas  failed  to  receive  sup- 
port of  the  South ;  the  pro-slavery  Democrats  desired  Lin- 
coln to  be  elected;  this  prearranged  election  a  preliminary 
of  secession. 

History  of  the  theory  of  secession ;  justifiability  depends 
upon  the  nature  of  the  Union ;  early  threats ;  relation  of 
secession  to  nullification ;  leaders  of  Southern  thought  after 
the  death  of  Calhoun;  Yancey,  Toombs,  Cobb,  Jefferson 
Davis;  motives  of  secession  other  than  desire  to  protect 
slavery;  independence;  personal  ambition  of  politicians; 
belief  that  economic  position  could  be  improved  outside 
the  Union ;  schemes  for  a  great  pro-slavery  empire ;  belief 
in  the  right  interpretation  of  the  Constitution. 

Courses  open  to  the  National  Government  for  meeting 
secession;  (a)  no  opposition  whatever;  (b)  resistance  with 
the  military  and  naval  forces  of  the  central  government; 
(c)  compromise;  policy  of  Buchanan's  administration 
toward  the  seceded  states ;  the  Crittenden  Compromise ; 
peace  conference  presided  over  by  John  Tyler. 

The  boldness  of  the  course  pursued  by  Southern  leaders 
resulted  from  their  belief  in  the  lack  of  decision,  not  to  say 
pusillanimity  of  the  North,  and  the  influence  of  ' l  King  Cot- 
ton" in  bringing  to  them  the  active  support  of  the  Euro- 
pean powers ;  the  President-elect,  Abraham  Lincoln,  was 
an  unknown  quantity  and  was  regarded  by  men  of  his  own 
party  as  a  mediocre  statesman ;  seemingly  no  person  whose 
opinion  carried  great  weight  had  any  notion  of  the  magni- 
tude of  the  contest  into  which  the  nation  was  drifting.  In 


the  great  Civil  War  which  was  to  follow  the  people  of 
what  was  then  the  Great  West,  inured  to  hardship  by  fron- 
tier conditions,  furnished  the  principal  leaders  for  the 
North  and  decided  the  victory  for  nationality. 

BOOKS  KECOMMENDED. 

The  authorities  are  substantially  the  same  for  this  as  the  previous 
lecture.  Considerable  information  from  the  Southern  point  of  view 
for  the  years  just  previous  to  the  Civil  War,  is  given  in  "The  Lost 
Cause/'  by  E.  A.  Pollard,  and  in  "The  Eise  and  Fall  of  the  Con- 
federate Government, ' '  by  Jefferson  Davis. 


SOME  MEMOEABLE  DATES  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY. 

1492.  First  Voyage  of  Columbus. 

1513.  Balboa  discovers  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

1519.  Voyage  of  Magellan;  Cortez  conquers  Mexico. 

1540.  Coronado's  Expedition. 

1578.  Drake  in  California. 

1607.  Settlement  of  Jamestown. 

1620.  Settlement  of  Plymouth. 

1664.  English  Conquest  of  New  Netherlands. 

1713.  Treaty  of  Utrecht. 

1754.  Albany  Congress. 

1763.  Treaty  of  Paris.     (End  of  Seven  Years'  War.) 

1765.  The  Stamp  Act. 

1774.  First  Continental  Congress. 

1776.  Declaration  of  Independence. 

1778.  The  French  Alliance. 

1783.  The  Treaty  of  Versailles. 

1787.  The  Constitutional  Convention;  Northwest  Ordinance. 

1789.  First  Federal  Administration.  (Capital  at  New  York  City.) 

1793.  Cotton-Gin  Invented. 

1795.  Jay  Treaty  Ratified.      The    Treaty  of  Greenville.     (After 

Wayne's  Victory.) 

1803.  Louisiana  Purchase. 

1807.  Prohibition  of  Slave  Trade. 

1811.  Battle  of  Tippecanoe. 

1815.  Treaty  of  Ghent;  Battle  of  New  Orleans. 

1816.  Charter  of  United  States  Bank;  Protective  Tariff. 

1819.  Florida  Purchase. 

1820.  Missouri  Compromise. 
1823.  Monroe  Doctrine. 

1830.  Debate  on  Foote's  Resolution.     (Webster  vs.  Hayne.) 

1832.  Nullification  in  South  Carolina. 

1836.  Texas  Independent. 

1842.  Ashburton  Treaty  with  Great  Britain. 

1845.  Annexation  of  Texas. 

1846.  Oregon  Question  Settled;  California  Seized. 
1848.  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo. 

1850.  The  Great  Compromise. 

1854.  Kansas-Nebraska  Act. 

1857.  Dred  Scott  Decision. 

1858.  Lincoln-Douglas  Debate. 
1860.  Election  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


DEPARTMENT   OF   UNIVERSITY   EXTENSION. 

LIST  OF  SYLLABUSES  OF  COUESES  OF  TWELVE  LECTURES. 

1.— History  of  the  French  Revolution,  by  H.  MORSE  STEPHENS. 

2. — History  and  Literature  of  Russia,  by  JEROME  B.  LANDFIELD. 

3.— History  and  Historians,  by  H.  MORSE  STEPHENS. 

4. — The  Renaissance  in  Italy,  by  GARRICK  MALLORY  BORDEN. 

5.— History  of  Music,  by  GARRICK  MALLORY  BORDEN. 

6.— The  .Napoleonic  Period  in  Europe,  by  H.  MORSE  STEPHENS. 

7.— The  Victorian  Poets,  by  FREDERICK  J.  TEGGART. 

8.— History  of  Trade  Unionism,  by  CARLETON  PARKER. 

9.— The  Enlightened  Despotism  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  in  Europe, 
by  H.  MORSE  STEPHENS. 

10.  — The  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Spanish  Power  in  Europe  and  America, 
by  DON  E.  SMITH. 

11. — South  Africa,  by  CARLETON  PARKER. 

12. — The  Westward  Movement  in  American  History,  by  DON  E.  SMITH. 

13. — Dramatic  Literature  in  the  Times  of  Elizabeth  and  James  I,  by 
FREDERICK  MORTIMER  CLAPP. 

14. — The  Prose  Literature  of  Russia  in  Novel  and  Short  Story,  by 
FREDERICK  MORTIMER  CLAPP. 

Copies  of  any  of  these  syllabuses  and  of  the  circular  describing 
the  system  of  University  Extension  can  be  obtained  upon  application 
to  the  Secretary  for  University  Extension,  University  of  California, 
Berkeley,  California. 


